Congress is the “original sin” behind corruption in flood control projects that worsened flooding and wasted public funds, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said the probe should not stop with dismissed DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, contractor Sally Santos, or the Discayas, but should also reach lawmakers who inserted funds into the budget.
“If congressmen and senators did not insert funds, there would be no funds for corrupt Department of Public Works and Highways officials to play with, especially in the district engineering offices,” he said.
The Blue Ribbon Committee resumed its hearing Tuesday, Sept. 23, with former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo among those invited. Documents submitted by Hernandez, who earlier linked Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada to project insertions and kickbacks, will also be analyzed. Both senators have denied the allegations.
Lacson said any evidence gathered will be shared with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, created by President Marcos to investigate DPWH anomalies in the last 10 years.
He also urged Congress to practice self-restraint by stopping budget insertions for infrastructure projects. “It all starts there, and some lawmakers got greedier and greedier.”IMT
